Telfer makes it three in a row

Kaleigh Telfer staved off a spirited final round challenge from fellow Gauteng junior Ivanna Samu to lift her fourth title this season, and third in a row, at the Boland Championship at Worcester Golf Club.

Telfer carded successive rounds of 68 to triumph on an impressive eight-under-par 136 total. The 17-year-old Bryanston golfer lagged a stroke behind first round pacesetter Woo Ju Son, but finished three strokes clear of Eagle Canyon’s 14-year-old Son, who signed off with a 72.

Meanwhile Samu started the final round well off the pace after an opening 74, but the 16-year-old Ruimsig golfer rallied with a superb 69 to claim sole third on 143. Minette Oliver from Eastern Province finished in fourth on 146.

Telfer made her first visit to the winner’s circle in the Free State and Northern Cape Championship in April and claimed her second podium finish at the Southern Cape Championship in August. The victory in Worcester followed on the heels of an eight-stroke victory in the Ekurhuleni Championship seven days earlier..

“I am really happy to be back in winning form, but to be honest, I’m far more pleased with my scoring than collecting trophies,” Telfer said.

“At the Annika Invitational Europe and Girls’ British Amateur it became clear to me that you can’t contend if you don’t consistently break par.”

Telfer shot rounds of 66, 67 and 70 to win in George and followed two 73s at Benoni Country Club with a one under 71 in the final round.

“My main focus has been to play consistent golf,” she said. “I am working hard to avoid that one bad round that spoils the tournament. I want to get my game to a level where I can compete internationally with confidence.”

Meanwhile the chase for top spot in the Women’s Golf SA rankings continued. Telfer, ranked second, has been stalking No1 one ranked Samu since the reigning Sanlam SA Women’s Amateur Stroke Play champion moved to No1 in February.

Samu’s victory in the Nomads SA Girls Championship earned her a spot in the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy in England, so Telfer was able to capitalise on Samu’s absence to close the gap considerably at the Ekurhuleni Championship. However, since Samu didn’t compete in last year’s Boland Championship, she comfortably retained the top spot with the third place finish, worth 11 points.

Telfer tied for second in the 2014 edition and thus only gained nine points for her victory. The difference is just 3.75 points and the pair will only resume their rivalry in the season-ending Mpumalanga Championship at White River CC in November.